RANKIN INLET/REPULSE BAY
Repulse Bay (Naujaat) nipped the Rankin Miners 4-3 in overtime to claim the First Air Avataq Cup in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd on March 18.
Aaron Kopak accepts the Best Defenceman
award from Hamish Tatty at the conclusion of the First Air Avataq Cup senior men's hockey tourney in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo |
The game was one of the most exciting finals ever played at the event, and the first time the championship was decided in overtime.
The tilt was decided when Jeff Siusangnark chipped the puck past a pinching Miners defenceman, raced down the right wing and blasted a shot top corner to the stick side past Miners goalie James Merritt at 14:13 of the overtime session.
Naujaat was playing shorthanded at the time, with star defenceman Aaron Kopak off for tripping.
The Huka Inuks defeated Coral Harbour 11-4 to claim bronze.
The final two games had to be rescheduled from March 15 to March 18, due to a severe blizzard.
Also competing at the First Air Avataq Cup were host teams the Sea Dogs, Rubber Puckies and Team Todd, along with Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove and Baker Lake.
Commissioner Justin Merritt said the tournament went exceptionally well except for the weather delay.
He said he didn't receive a single complaint during the event.
"You can't ask for a better ending to a tournament than that championship game," said Merritt. "It was the best rec hockey final I've ever seen.
"We can only fit so many into our arena, and for those who couldn't attend the game, for whatever reason, they were really enthralled listening to it on radio.
"David Ningeongan did a fantastic job announcing a tremendously exciting game."
Merritt said, in his opinion, any one of Naujaat, the Miners and Huka Inuks could have won the Avataq.
He said Naujaat got past both Huka and the Miners due to the fantastic goaltending of Joe Jr. Kaludjak.
"Junior stole the tournament in my opinion.
"He was fantastic in the final and even better in the semifinal against Huka.
"I haven't seen him play that good in a few years, but he sure came through for Repulse when it mattered.
"Being from Rankin, he seemed really motivated against those teams."
Merritt said in order for the tournament to get better, more quality teams have to be attracted or the executive should look at allowing fewer teams to enter.
He said this year's event would have been more competitive had defending champs Iqaluit and Arviat been able to compete.
"I'd hate to see it go down in teams, really, because many consider it a regional event, and you wouldn't want to see communities like Chester, Baker and even Whale Cove not participate.
"I think the key is to have two divisions so the games during the round robin are more competitive and mean more in whether a team makes the playoffs.
"I would suggest two five-team divisions with the best five teams on paper in the A Division.
"The top four in that division would make the playoffs - with first and second getting a first-round bye - and the top two teams in the B Division would get in and then play teams three and four of the A Division in crossover games."
Kaludjak, who won both the tournament's Best Goalie and Most Valuable Player awards, said this was one of the sweetest victories of his career, that the tournament went well, and both the semifinal and final could have gone either way.
"Both those games were anybody's game to win," said Kaludjak.
"Being from Rankin, I was pumped to beat Rankin's top two teams and win the Avataq.
"I played in the Avataq with Whale Cove a few years ago, but it was different playing with Repulse.
"Those guys play hard all the time - every game, all the way - and they never stop moving their legs or give up on a game."
Kaludjak said he can't describe the happiness he felt when the winning goal went in.
"It was such a good game and the crowd was so awesome - I was having so much fun out there.
"I'm thinking about putting my own team together for next year, but I haven't decided yet.
"Rankin has the number-one crowds in Nunavut because they really love hockey and they really get into the game.
"Avataq is the number one tournament to win in Nunavut and, after the game, everyone on our team was hollering, laughing, hugging each other and having a blast."
